Artisans, weavers, painters and sculptors drawn from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar , Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, J&K, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Manipur, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the host state Odisha participated in the Fair.
Madhubani painting of Bihar, wood furniture of Saharanpur, brass products of Moradabad, Solapith flowers of West Bengal, patchwork of Madhya Pradesh, bamboo products of Tripura, Iron crafts of Chhattisgarh as well as the major crafts of Odisha such as Applique, Stone Carving, Wood Crafts, Pattachitra, Natural Fibre, Dhokra Craft, Silver filigree, Terracotta, Paper Machie, Straw Craft etc were on display and they all got terrific response , highlighting that the traditional art and handloom of the country is still alive and kicking.
In handwovens, there was Chikankari of Lucknow, best shawls of Kashmir, rich Banarasi silk sarees , Bengal textiles, garments of Delhi and the major handloom of Odisha such as Ikkat , Tassar , Bomkai, Sambalpuri Ikkat, Kotpad Sarees and a range of Tribal textiles. There was also a very encouraging participation of Educational institutes in the field of Handlooms and Textiles Technology. A theme pavilion named ‘Magic in Metal’, depicting the Dhokra craft tradition of Odisha, stood right in the middle of the Fair.
12 lakh people were expected to visit the Fair this year. But the official count put it at 15 lakh and above by the time the Fair culminated, going on to show the fantastic response that the Fair got. The dust may have settled on Toshali Fair’14 but already expectations have been generated for the coming editions, both from the participants and the very people who thronged the Fair.
Colorful stalls, live and vibrant cultural performance, mouth-watering cuisines and breathtaking artefacts from across the country was the highlight of the Crafts Festival. The Handloom and Handicraft Festival provided an excellent opportunity for visitors to interact with artisans of international repute in an ambience of a rural Indian bazaar or ‘Haat’. The Toshali Crafts Fair was not just a congregation of craftsmen showcasing India’s rich handloom and handicrafts products but also a meeting ground of pristine culture and the pulsating present which exudes the effervescent spirit of India. The Toshali National Crafts Mela is now an event that has carved out a special niche in the country’s carnival and Festival carnival.